Nathan the Babylonian

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Rabbinical Eras
Chazal Zugot Tannaim Amoraim Savoraim Geonim Rishonim Acharonim

Nathan the Babylonian (Hebrew: רבי נתן הבבלי), also known as Rabbi Nathan, was a tanna of the third generation (2nd century), the son of a Babylonian exilarch. For unknown reasons he left Babylonia, and his bright prospects there, to settle in the land of Israel, where he was made chief of the school at Usha (Hor. 13b; H. Grätz, Gesch. iv.185). Later he was entrusted by the patriarch R. Simon ben Gamaliel III to secure a reconciliation with R. Hananiah of Babylon, who had declared himself independent of the Sanhedrin of Judea and had established one in Babylon—a mission which Nathan, in company with R. Isaac, successfully executed (Grätz, l.c. pp. 188 et seq.). According to I. Halevy (in Dorot ha-Rishonim, p. 185), however, both Nathan and Isaac were still residents of Babylon.

Controversy

Soon afterward dissensions occurred between Nathan and R. Meïr, on the one side, and the president, R. Simon, on the other, owing to an attempt by the latter to abolish the equality hitherto existing among all members of the school, by restricting the tokens of esteem shown by the community to other members of the school lower in distinction than the president. Nathan and Meïr conspired to depose Simon and to usurp his authority themselves, but the plot came to his knowledge, and he caused the conspirators to be expelled from the school. The two knew, however, how to make their absence felt. They sent in slips on which were written puzzling halakic questions, so that a member of the school once exclaimed: "We are inside, and the learning is outside!" Both Nathan and Meir were ultimately readmitted on condition that the name of neither should thenceforth be mentioned in connection with his halakic decisions, but that a pseudonym should be used instead. In the case of Nathan this pseudonym was "some say"; in that of Meïr, "others say" (Hor. 13b).

Nathan was a high Talmudic authority. Numerous halakic decisions and haggadic sayings of his are recorded. To him is attributed also the authorship of the treatise entitled Abot de-Rabbi Natan, a kind of tosefta to the Pirḳe Abot. He is said also to have been the author of the baraita Mem Ṭet Middot, no longer extant, on Haggadah and mathematics (Z. Frankel, Darke ha-Mishnah, p. 191, Leipzig, 1859).

Nathan's chief opponent in halakic decisions was the patriarch R. Judah I, whom, however, he is said to have assisted in the collaboration of the Mishnah (B. M. 86a, and Rashi ad loc.) and who held him in high esteem (B. B. 131a).

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

Grätz, Gesch. ed. Leipzig, 1893, iv. 173, 185, 187;
Heilprin, Seder ha-Dorot, ii. 290, Warsaw, 1882;
I. Halevy, Dorot ha-Rishonim, ii. 97, 185, Frankfort-on-the-Main, 1901;
Abot de-Rabbi Natan, ed. Schechter, Vienna, 1887;

External links

Jewish Encyclopedia article for Rabbi Nathan, by Wilhelm Bacher and A. S. Waldstein

v t e Tannaim

Last Generation of Zugot Era	Hillel the Elder Shammai Bnei Bathyra Menahem Akabia ben Mahalalel Hananiah b. Hezekiah b. Garon

First Generation	Gamaliel I, the Elder Shimon ben Gamliel (I) Ishmael ben Elisha ha-Kohen Johanan ben Zakai Jonathan ben Uzziel Baba ben Buta Hanina Ben Dosa Hanina Segan ha-Kohanim Abba Saul ben Batnit Admon Dosa ben Harkinas Judah ben Bathyra Eliezer ben Jacob I Nahum the Mede

Second Generation (Destruction of the Second Temple and thereafter)	Gamaliel II Joshua ben Hananiah Eliezer ben Hurcanus Eleazar ben Arach Nehunya ben HaKanah Nahum of Gimzo Abba Hilkiah Rabbi Zadok

Third Generation	Akiva ben Joseph Tarfon Judah ben Bava Rabbi Ishmael Eleazar ben Azariah Jose the Galilean Eliezer ben Jose Haninah ben Teradion Johanan ben Baroka Simon ben Zoma Simeon ben Azzai Onkelos Hanina ben Antigonus Hanina ben Hakinai Yochanan ben Nuri Eleazar Chisma Elisha ben Abuyah Rabbi Ilai I Eleazar of Modi'im Halafta Haninah ben Ahi R. Joshua Abtolemus Jose ben Kisma Jeshbab the Scribe Aquila of Sinope Johanan ben Torta Eleazar ben Judah of Bartota Matteya ben Heresh Hanan the Egyptian Simeon the Yemenite

Fourth Generation	Shimon ben Gamaliel (II) Judah bar Ilai Jose ben Halafta Rabbi Jonathan Rabbi Meir (and wife Bruriah) Simeon bar Yochai Eleazar ben Shammua Rabbi Nehemiah Rabbi Nathan Joshua ben Karha Abba Saul Yochanan HaSandlar Phinehas ben Jair Simeon Shezuri

Fifth Generation	Judah I Huna Kamma Jose b. Judah Ishmael ben Jose Eleazar b. Simeon Simeon ben Eleazar Eleazar ha-Kappar Symmachus ben Joseph Issi ben Judah Bar Kappara Jose ben Zimra Levi ben Sisi Rabbi Bana'ah Simeon b. Menasya Yadua the Babylonian Joshua ben Levi

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